Policies & Procedures

Below are policies, procedures, and points of contact that will be useful for Pratt undergraduate students. Although there are a few differences in policy and procedures between the Pratt School of Engineering and the Trinity College of Arts and Sciences, most policies will be the same for all Duke undergraduate students. Whenever possible, students are directed to use the same forms for both schools. Policies on this website corresponding to those of Trinity College are presented with minimal adaptation of information presented on T-reqs; use of this material is gratefully acknowledged.

Absence from a Final Exam

If for any reason you fail to take the final exam in a course, the instructor will record a grade of "X," which means "absence from a final exam." Within 48 hours of the recording of an "X" grade, you must present an explanation for your absence to Pratt’s Academic Deans. If you don't, or if the Dean does not approve your absence, the "X" grade will automatically become an "F".

An X grade will be excused if there is an extraordinary reason for the absence, generally a reason beyond your control. This might include a sudden illness requiring a visit to an emergency room or physician or a death in the family. End of semester travel plans are not acceptable grounds for missing a final exam. An X will also not be excused if you have a history of excessive absences or a failure to complete course work in a timely fashion. If you were already failing a course before missing the final exam, the instructor will submit an F grade rather than an X grade.

Note: The Short Term Illness policy does not cover missing a final exam.

You must notify your Dean before you miss an exam if at all possible or within the 48 hours after the exam was missed. If this time period covers a weekend, you should call and leave a voice mail message for your Dean or send an e-mail explaining that you missed a final exam and providing an explanation. You should then personally call the Dean's Office on the next workday to be sure your message was received and to arrange for an appointment if appropriate. Be prepared to provide documentation of illness, death or other emergency.

Your Dean will review the situation and either approve or disapprove your absence. If the absence is excused, your instructor will be notified and you can make arrangements with the instructor to make up the exam. You will generally have until the end of the fifth week of the next semester at the latest to clear the X by completing the final exam.

However, a shorter period applies when Semester Continuation Requirements are involved (see discussion under "incomplete course work") or if required by the instructor. Failure to complete the final exam in a course by the deadline will result in the assignment of a final course grade of "F."

The X grade will remain in place until a final grade is issued. At that time, the X will appear in parentheses beside the letter grade (e.g. C + (X)). If your absence from the final exam is not excused, the X grade will convert to an F.

Last updated: November 19, 2003

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Academic Accommodations

Pratt School of Engineering is pleased that students with disabilities have chosen to pursue their academic careers at Duke. Duke University and the Pratt School of Engineering are committed to quality of educational opportunities for qualified students in compliance with Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 through the Student Disability Access Office (SDAO).

The University has developed the following consistent procedures to explore possible reasonable accommodations for students for the purposes of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act:

The Student Disability Access Office (SDAO) explores possible coverage and reasonable academic accommodations for current and prospective Pratt School of Engineering undergraduate and graduate students. Current students and prospective students seeking information should contact the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities at 919-668-1267 and followed the procedures detailed below. The Director of the SDAO is Dr. Emma Swain.

If you have a disability and would like to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, please identify yourself by submitting a “Request for Consideration for Reasonable Accommodations Form.” Written documented verification for a licensed physician, psychologist, or other qualified professional should be sent along with your request form. You can obtain a request form and documentation guidelines by calling the Student Disability Access Office at (919) 668-1267 or by accessing their web site. Please be aware that requesting to be considered for accommodations takes time and additional documentation may be required. Students are encouraged to begin this process as soon as possible after being accepted to Duke University and the Pratt School of Engineering. Deadlines are available on the SDAO website. The Disability Liaison at the Pratt School of Engineering and instructors will be officially informed by of the Student Disability Access Office regarding students who are eligible to receive accommodations.

Disability Services Liaison for the Pratt School of Engineering:

Martha Absher
Associate Dean, Education and Outreach
313 Teer Building
919-660-5139
martha.absher@duke.edu

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Academic Deans for Undergraduates

Linda Franzoni
Associate Dean for Student Programs
305B Teer Engineering Building
919-660-5386
franzoni@duke.edu

Connie Simmons
Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs
305A Teer Engineering Building
919-660-5386
csimmons@duke.edu

Martha Absher
Associate Dean, Education and Outreach
313 Teer Building
919-660-5139
martha.absher@duke.edu

Lupita Temiquel-McMillian
Student Services Coordinator and Academic Dean for Civil and Mechanical Engineering
305 Teer Engineering Building
919-660-5386
lupita.mcmillian@duke.edu

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Academic Dismissal

A Duke student can be involuntarily withdrawn for academic reasons, financial reasons, and for violation of academic regulations. The information in this section pertains to involuntary withdrawal for academic reasons.

You will be withdrawn involuntarily from Duke for academic reasons if:

  • at the end of a semester you fail to pass at least three courses (3.0 credits) that semester, except that in the first semester of enrollment at Duke, you must pass at least two courses (2.0 credits);
  • you fail more than one full (1.0 credit) course in a summer session at Duke;
  • you are on probation and at the end of your probationary semester, you have failed to earn grades of C- or better in each of the four courses completed that semester or a C average for that semester; or
  • before the beginning of any fall term, you have not met annual continuation requirements.

If you are withdrawn (dismissed) for academic reasons, you may apply to return to Duke no earlier than two semesters after your withdrawal. The summer counts as one semester. You are not eligible to receive credit for course work completed while withdrawn and should therefore not enroll at another college or university during the period of your withdrawal. Students dismissed twice for academic reasons are not usually readmitted.

If you are suspended for JUDICIAL reasons, you are involuntarily withdrawn for a varying number of semesters, depending upon the seriousness of the offense for which you are found responsible.

To apply to return from an academic or judicial withdrawal (dismissal), go to Readmission for specific information about requirements, deadlines and for an application form for readmission. We recommend that you seek steady employment with an employer not connected with your family and be prepared to have your employer write a letter of recommendation as part of your application materials for readmission.

Questions specifically about judicial suspensions should be directed to Associate Dean Stephen Bryan of the Judicial Affairs division of the Dean of Students Office.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Academic Integrity

Intellectual and academic honesty are at the heart of academic life of any university. It is the responsibility of all members of our academic community to abide by Duke's strict expectations regarding proper citation of sources. It is also critically important to resist strenuously the temptation to cheat. Acts of academic dishonesty, including plagiarism and cheating, are considered very serious offenses. Students found guilty of plagiarism, cheating, or other forms of academic dishonesty are generally suspended. The academic and non-academic offenses recognized at Duke and the range of sanctions imposed for them are explained in the Duke Community Standard in Practice: A Guide for Undergraduates distributed to each incoming student. Please read this document carefully and make sure you understand its content.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Academic Warning

If you earn a single grade of F or a second D grade, you will be sent a letter of Academic Warning. If you receive such a letter, you are not required to take any formal steps as you would if you were placed on probation. However, you should seriously consider the events that led to that D or F grade and evaluate what steps you might take to resolve your problems. You should feel free to discuss the warning with your Academic Deans.

Last updated: November 19, 2003

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Adding a Course

The first two weeks of every semester constitute the "Drop/Add period." During the first week of class, you can use ACES online to add a course if there are seats available. Check the course listings on ACES. Be sure that you check for prerequisites that might be required for the course. No permission number is necessary during the first week, except for courses that always require consent of instructor. During the second week, you can still add a course, if you obtain a permission number from the instructor of the course you want to add. You'll use the permission number when you add the course through ACES.

After the end of the Drop/Add period, you can no longer add a new course. The only exception would be if you needed to correct your schedule in the week after Drop/Add (the Schedule Correction Period). You should always review your schedule as soon as the Drop/Add period is over every semester to be sure you're enrolled in the correct courses.

Last updated: November 19, 2003

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Advanced Placement Credits, International Placement Credit

If you took an AP exam in: And Scored: You will receive Duke Credit for: Are Eligible to take:
Art History 5 ARTHIST 20 100-level course
Art: Studio-Drawing Portfolio 5 ARTSVIS 21 Advanced level course
Art: General Portfolio 5 ARTVIS 21 Advanced level course
Biology 4/5 BIOLOGY 19**** Biology 101L or 102L
Chemistry 4 CHEM 18 CHEM 31L or 43L
Chemistry
5 CHEM 19 CHEM 43L, 151L††
Chinese 4/5 CHINESE 63 64 or 100-level course depending on placement score
Computer Science A 4/5 COMPSCI 4* COMPSCI 6 or 100
Computer Science AB 3 No Credit COMPSCI 6 or 100
Computer Science AB 4/5 COMPSCI 4* COMPSCI 100
Computer Science AB 4/5 COMPSCI 6† COMPSCI 100
Economics (Macro) 4/5 ECON 1A ECON 51D; ECON 55D if a student has credit for both ECON 1A and 2A
Economics (Micro) 4/5 ECON 2A ECON 51D; ECON 55D if a student has credit for both ECON 1A and 2A
English (Comp/Lit) 4/5 ENGLISH 20 Any course except ENGLISH 20
English (Lang/Comp) 4/5 ENGLISH 29 Any course except ENGLISH 29
Environmental Science 4/5 ENVIRON 19 Environ 101
French Language 5 FRENCH 76 100-level course
French Literature 4/5 FRENCH 76 100-level course
German Language & Lit 4 GERMAN 99 GERMAN 66 or 117
German Language & Lit 5 GERMAN 99 GERMAN 117 or above
U.S. History 4/5 HIST 18A, 18B Any course
European History/World cultures 4/5 HIST 19A, 19B Any course
World History 4/5 HISTORY 17 Any course
Italian Language/Culture4ITALIAN 76Italian 101
Italian Language/Culture5ITALIAN 76Any 100-level course
Japanese Language and Culture 4/5 Japanese 63 Japanese 64 or 125 depending on placement
Latin: Literature 4/5 LATIN 85 100-level course
Latin: Vergil 4/5 LATIN 85 100-level course
Math: Calculus AB 5 MATH 31 MATH 41L (fall) or 32L (spring)
Math: Calculus BC 3 MATH 31 MATH 41L (fall) or 32L (spring)
Math: Calculus BC 4/5 MATH 31, 32*** MATH 103***
Music Theory 4/5 MUSIC 55 Any course except MUSIC 55
Physics C Mechanics 4/5 PHYSICS 61‡ Consult department
Physics C, Electricity, Magnetism 4/5 PHYSICS 62‡ Consult department
Physics B 4/5 No credit Consult department
Political Science (U.S. Gov't and Politics) 4/5 POLSCI 90A** 100-level course
Political Science (Comparative Govt. and Politics) 4/5 POLSCI 90B** 100-level course
Psychology 5 PSY 11 Any course except PSY 11
Spanish Language 5 SPANISH 76 100-level course
Spanish Literature 4/5 SPANISH 76 100-level course
Statistics 5 STA 10* STA 101, 102, or 103

Notes:

  1. AP credit in English does not exempt any student from WRITING 20.
  2. History majors may count only one AP credit.

*Applies only to students in Trinity College. No credit awarded for engineering students and will not count toward the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree. .

**Will not count toward fulfillment of the major requirements.

***Students who are sure they will major in Economics may take MATH 102 instead of MATH 103. This does not apply to engineering students. Engineering students must take Math 103.

**** Pratt School of Engineering: Will not satisfy the Biomedical Engineering chemistry requirement. Biomedical Engineering students are required to take Chem 43 and Chem 32, or Chem 43 and Chem 151 to satisfy the Biomedical Engineering chemistry requirement.

†Pratt School of Engineering: Will count toward the Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree but not as a substitute for EGR 53.

†† Pratt School of Engineering: Biomedical Engineering students must take Chem 151.

‡ Trinity College: Prospective Physics majors are strongly encouraged to take the PHYSICS 41L and 42L independent of their AP course credit. Pratt School of Engineering: at least one physics course must be taken at Duke. Students entering with credit for both PHY 61 and 62 must take one of the following at Duke: PHY 62, 63, 143, or a pre-approved upper-level Physics course.

No placement or elective credit can be considered until your official score has been received by the Office of the Registrar, Box 90054, Durham, NC 27708. To send your AP scores to Duke, contact AP Exams, CN6671, Princeton, NJ 08541-6671; http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/exgrd_rep.html; 609-771-7300 or 888-225-5427. Duke's CEEB number is 5156.

International Placement Credit

Duke Also recognizes international standardized examinations and grants a limited amount of elective credit and placement into advanced courses at Duke for students whose performance in these examinations meets certain standards established by the University.

Examination Score
International Baccalaureate 6 or 7 on the higher level
Cambridge Pre-UM3 or higher
Caribbean Advance Proficiency Exam (CAPE)1 or 2
British, Hong Kong or Singapore A-level (GCE)
 A or B
French Baccalaureate 14 or higher
Swiss Maturite 4 or 5
German Abitur 10 or higher
All India/Delhi Senior School Certificate Exam (Class 12)
 84 or higher
Indian School Certificate Exam (12th year)
 84 or higher
Higher Secondary Certificate Exam (India, 12th year)84 or higher
Israeli Matriculation Certificate (5 units only)75 or higher

These credits can be awarded only in those subject areas for which there is an AP exam offered domestically. Have the scores of your examinations sent directly to the Office of the University Registrar (Box 90054, Durham, NC 27708) as soon as you can, so that credit can be posted to your Duke record. If you have any difficulties with this, contact Harry Nelson in the Registrar's Office to ask for clarification or further instructions. If you have questions about the use of IPC for placement into Duke courses, contact an academic dean or the appropriate department.

Last updated: May 18, 2011

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Athletic Participation, Notification of (NOVAP)

The Pratt class attendance and missed work policy recognizes the fact that varsity athletes will be unable to attend classes when they are officially representing the University in varsity athletic competition away from campus. For this reason, varsity athletes are given a letter at the beginning of each semester to give to each of their instructors, notifying them that they are varsity athletes. This letter, signed by the Dean of Trinity College and by Brad Berndt, Associate Athletics Director, is accompanied by a schedule of that semester's varsity athletic competitions.

In addition, varsity athletes are expected to notify their instructors in whose courses they will be missing academic work before each absence from class due to athletic participation. To do this, varsity athletes are to complete and submit the following online form: NOTIFICATION OF VARSITY ATHLETIC PARTICIPATION.

Because athletic absences are pre-scheduled events, student athletes are expected to submit a form no later than one week prior to their participation in each varsity athletic competition out of town.

As in the case of Short-term illness notifications, student athletes must electronically sign the NOVAP form, indicating that they are acting in accordance with the Duke Community Standard.

After the completed NOVAP form has been submitted, the instructor will receive e-mailed notification, with copies sent also to the student and to the student's academic dean.

Note: Use of the NOVAP procedure is monitored and faculty are advised to bring to the attention of a student's academic dean any instances in which the instructor believes the student may be abusing the procedure. In cases of suspected abuse of the system the dean may refer the matter to the Undergraduate Judicial Board for investigation.

A note about the final exam period: Given the time limitations inherent in completing end-of-semester assignments or making up a missed final exam, this procedure cannot be used during the final exam period. You are expected to take final examinations at the scheduled times and to complete end-of-semester work by the deadlines set by the instructor unless an extraordinary circumstance interferes. If you encounter an extraordinary circumstance during exam week, contact your Academic Dean directly as soon as possible, preferably before the scheduled assignment or exam

Added: February 2, 2009

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Auditing a Course

If you audit a course, you attend the lectures but do not turn in assignments or take exams. You do not receive credit for the course and will receive an AD (audited) or WA (withdrew from an audited course) notation on your transcript. There are only a few circumstances where an audit is useful. These include:

  • if you want to explore an area unrelated to your major and the course is outside of your primary interests;
  • if you want a review of an area you are already knowledgeable in, or;
  • if a course is of particular interest but would require an extraordinary effort for you to take for a grade along with your other planned courses.

You cannot repeat for credit a course previously audited at Duke or at another college or university, so be sure that any audited course does not fall into an area in which you might later decide to major or minor or complete a certificate. Once you have enrolled in a course for regular credit, you cannot later change it to an audit if the drop/add deadline has passed. You may not audit physical education, studio art, applied music, dance technique, or performance courses. You should also not audit a foreign language course if you are planning to fulfill the foreign language requirement in that language and there is any reason to believe that you may need to take that course for credit.

In order to register as an auditor in a course you must obtain a signed permission letter from the instructor and submit it to the Registrar's Office prior to the end of the drop/add period. Click here for the form.

Last updated: November 4, 2008

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Class Attendance and Missed Work

By Pratt School policy, you are expected to and should attend classes regularly and complete all assignments on time. Class attendance is critical for many reasons and is often a factor in determining the course grade. This is particularly true of lab courses. Most instructors state their attendance policy in the course syllabus or in the first class session. Be sure you understand what each of your instructors expects of you. If you must miss a class, it's a good idea to let your instructor know in advance or as soon thereafter as possible. If you don't explain your absence, your instructor may assume you don't care about the class or your grade.

The information below details policies and procedures dealing with missed work related to class absence. It is important to note that these policies and procedures do not apply during the reading and final exam period.

Missed work associated with absence from class is accommodated in three circumstances (see below). The nature of accommodation (e.g. arrangements made to submit work early, alternative assignment, etc) is to be determined by the faculty member.

1. Illness or other extraordinary personal circumstance:

  • Short-term illness: Students notify their instructors and their Academic Deans by means of the Short-Term Illness Notification Form that they are temporarily incapacitated and hence are unable to attend class or complete an assignment on time. They submit the STINF on their honor, and instructors are expected to accept students’ pledges that they are incapacitated. Students are expected to submit the form as soon as possible to the instructor, but depending upon the circumstances, may not always be able to do so prior to the date of a missed class or assignment.
  • Extraordinary long-term medical or personal circumstances: In cases of long-term or chronic illness/injury or extraordinary personal reasons known to and approved by the dean, the student’s academic dean will send an e-mail notice to the student’s instructors authorizing the student’s absence and requesting accommodation.


2. Religious observance:

  • Students absent from class due to observance of a religious holiday are expected to submit a Religious Observance Notification Form to the instructor no later than one week prior to the date of the holiday. Because religious holidays are scheduled in advance, instructors have the right to insist that course work to be missed should be completed prior to an anticipated absence in accordance with the course attendance policy.


3. Varsity athletic participation:

  • Varsity athletes, whose athletic travel schedules are governed by strict NCAA rules that apply across all varsity sports and all divisional schools, are recognized as officially representing the University in intercollegiate competitions away from campus. Accordingly, varsity athletes are expected to notify instructors at the beginning of the semester of their status and submit a Notification of Varsity Athletic Participation Form no later than one week prior to their participation in each varsity athletic competition out of town. Because varsity athletic events out of town are scheduled in advance, instructors have the right to insist that course work to be missed should be completed prior to an anticipated absence in accordance with the course attendance policy.


Missed work associated with any other absence is not covered by this policy. Students, however, are encouraged to discuss any absence planned or unexpected with their instructor to determine whether accommodation is possible. Instructors are not obligated to accommodate such absences but are expected to make clear in their attendance policy the implications of any such absence.

Last updated: February 2, 2009

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Complaints about a Course

It is the obligation of your instructors to evaluate your course work and to submit a grade for you at the end of the academic semester. You, in turn, have a right to know at the beginning of the semester the basis on which you will be evaluated in a course and to expect to be graded fairly, i.e., in the same way that all other students in a course are graded.

If you have concerns or complaints about a course in which you are enrolled, you should try to resolve the matter with the instructor. If your concern is not resolved to your satisfaction in this way, you can bring it to the attention of the Director of Undergraduate Studies and if necessary to the Department Chair, in accordance with the Undergraduate Grade Review Procedure. You may also find it helpful to speak with Academic Deans about your rights and responsibilities.

Note: A fuller statement called "Procedures for Resolution of Student's Academic Concerns" is found in the Duke Community Standard in Practice: A Guide for Undergraduates.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Continuation Requirements

You must achieve a satisfactory record of academic performance each term and make satisfactory progress toward graduation each year to continue in Pratt. Continuation requirements are discussed in detail in the Bulletin of Undergraduate Instruction.

Satisfactory Performance Each Term (Semester Continuation Requirements):

  • In the first semester of enrollment at Duke, you must pass at least two semester courses.
  • After the first semester at Duke, you must pass at least three semester courses each semester.
  • If you are taking an underload (which must be authorized by your dean), you must earn all passing grades.
  • You may not fail more than one full course taken during the summer, except that you must pass any and all courses taken in the summer if you received a grade of F in the preceding spring semester.

If you fail to meet semester continuation requirements, you will be academically dismissed for two semesters. Students dismissed twice for academic reasons are generally not readmitted to Duke.

Satisfactory Progress Toward Graduation (Annual Continuation Requirements):

Prior to the beginning of fall term classes, you must have made satisfactory progress toward graduation to be eligible to continue at Duke. The number of credits you must pass to continue into the next academic year is listed in the table that follows. If at the end of the spring semester, you do not meet the requirements for entering the fall semester, you will be required to attend one or both summer sessions at Duke to make up the required credits. If you do not do so, you will be dismissed for two semesters. Note that courses in which F grades are earned do not count towards annual continuation and only two courses in which D grades are earned will count toward annual continuation.

To be eligible to continue your... You must have passed...
2nd year at Duke
6 s.c. at Duke and earned P, C-, or better in 4 s.c.
3rd year at Duke 13 s.c. at duke and earned P, C-, or better in 11 s.c.
4th year at Duke 20 s.c. at Duke and earned P, C- or better in 18 s.c.
5th year at Duke 27 s.c. at Duke and earned P, C- or better in 25 s.c.

Note: this table takes into account the fact that some students will have interrupted their study at Duke. For example, in such cases, a student may be entering in the fall his/her 4th or 6th semester at Duke.

Last updated: November 19, 2003

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Course Load

Course Load

It is your responsibility to be certain that your course load conforms with academic requirements. The minimum course load in the fall or spring term is four semester courses. Seniors may request permission from their Academic Deans to take an underload of three courses for their last semester.

Normal Load

A "normal course load" is defined as four (4.0) course credits-specifically four 1.0 credits-- and, as noted above, you are expected to enroll in at least this many course credits each semester.

Overload

You may register for 4.0 credits during your normal registration window, and can then increase your course load to as many as 5.5 credits in Trinity College and 5.0 in Pratt during the drop/add period; however, Freshmen may not exceed 4.5 academic credits in their first semester.

Permission from your academic dean is required for an overload of 6.0 course credits. A course load of 6.0 academic courses is considerably more demanding than one of 5.0 course credits. In determining whether to approve an overload to 6.0 course credits, your academic dean will carefully consider your academic history, including your grades and your course load in previous semesters. Under no circumstances will students be allowed to register for more than 6.0 course credits.

Underload

You are permitted to be in an underload, defined as a course load of between 3.0 and 3.75 course credits, only if authorized to do so by your academic dean. The number of semesters you may be in an underload cannot exceed two semesters during your time at Duke, though this limit excludes withdrawals for documented medical conditions or other extraordinary reasons known to the academic dean. A student in an underload is still considered a full-time degree candidate at Duke.

Note: if you are a scholarship student contemplating withdrawal from a course to an underload, you should check the conditions of your award to ascertain whether you are bound by scholarship regulations governing your course load each semester.

Two categories of underloads may be authorized:

Withdrawal to an Underload

During the semester, your academic dean may permit you "for compelling reasons" to withdraw from a normal course load to an underload. Such a withdrawal to an underload is possible only prior to the final four weeks of classes in a semester. After this deadline, withdrawals to an underload are only permitted for documented medical reasons. If granted permission to withdraw from a course to an underload for a reason other than a documented medical condition, you should not expect to receive permission to withdraw to an underload in a subsequent semester.

Enrollment in an Underload (this category takes effect in the fall semester 2009)

Under certain specific circumstances, students with a strong academic record may start a semester enrolled in an underload of between 3.0 and 3.75 course credits. This is permitted as many as two times in a student's Duke career. To be eligible for this, you must meet the following conditions:

  • have declared a major;

  • have a GPA of at least 3.0 and not be on academic probation;

  • be enrolled at Duke-enrolling in an underload is not permitted when you are studying abroad or otherwise away from Duke;

  • have passed at least 16 courses before a first underload semester;

  • before a second underload semester, have passed at least 20 courses prior to the 6th semester or 24 prior to the 7th semester (excluding AP credits but including transfer credits) or 31 prior to the 8th semester (including AP, IPC, and PMC credits).

If you meet these requirements and wish to start a semester enrolled in an underload you must receive certification from the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the major that the underload will not inhibit completion of major requirements and permission from your academic dean. An Underload Enrollment Authorization Form is available for this purpose. The number of semesters any student is permitted to be in an underload cannot exceed two, though medical withdrawals are not counted in this number. Thus, if you withdraw from a course to an underload, which (as noted above) is permitted only once in your Duke career, you will be permitted to enroll once in an underload, provided you have met the conditions described above. If you do not withdraw from a course to an underload in your undergraduate career, you may enroll in an underload no more than two times, provided you meet the conditions described above. In short, there are only two possible enrollment patterns involving underloads:

  • one withdrawal to an underload + one enrollment in an underload, or

  • two enrollments in an underload

Seniors needing only 3 courses to graduate may enroll in an underload only in accordance with one or the other of these two patterns. Seniors who anticipate that they will need fewer than 3 courses to graduate must apply by April 15 of the previous year for part-time degree status, which is not affected by or a part of the underload enrollment policy described here.

Cautions Regarding Enrolling in an Underload

When considering whether to enroll in an underload, please note that you:

  • will be ineligible for Dean's List and Dean's List with Distinction that semester;

  • may not use half- or quarter-credit courses to enroll in an underload of 3.0 course credits;

  • may not withdraw from a course during the underload semester; and

  • must pass at least 3.0 course credits in order to meet semester continuation requirements and avoid dismissal for academic reasons.

Please also consider whether a semester of enrollment in an underload might affect:

  • your scholarship or financial aid-check the conditions of your award;

  • your subsequent application to graduate or professional school-consult your graduate or pre-professional school adviser.

Last updated: May 18, 2009

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Course Sequencing

In certain subjects, such as the sciences, mathematics, engineering and the foreign languages, courses (particularly at the introductory or intermediate level) must be taken in sequence because the concepts introduced and skills acquired at one level are needed for successful work at the next higher level. It follows, that having successfully completed a course at a higher level in a sequence, a student may not subsequently enroll in a course at a lower level in that sequence. For example, you cannot take Math 25L after having successfully completed Math 31L, or Math 31L after Math 32L. Similarly, Spanish 1 or 2 may not be taken after Spanish 63.

Once you reach advanced course work in a subject, courses generally do not stand in sequential relationship to one another, unless otherwise indicated. For example, advanced (100-level) language courses may be taken for credit without regard to their course number.

Last updated: November 19, 2003

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Course Withdrawal

" Withdrawing" from a course differs from "dropping" a course. When you drop a course, you can do so yourself through ACES Web during the Drop/Add period, and the course does not appear on your official Duke transcript. However, to withdraw from a course after the Drop/Add deadline, you must follow a set of procedures that begins at Academic Deans office, and (if the withdrawal is approved) ends when a grade of W is recorded on your official transcript.

The deadline for requesting to withdraw from a course is four (4) weeks before the last day of classes. The specific deadline date is published in the Trinity College and Pratt academic calendars.

When should you withdraw from a course and when should you persist?

Each situation is unique and you are welcome to discuss the range of your options with Academic Deans at any time. If you are having great difficulty in a course such as math, chemistry, or a foreign language where your background is weak or your study habits are not well enough developed to permit you to pass the course, then withdrawing from it is a sensible option. Having a WP or WF on a transcript is preferable to an F. If you are struggling in a course but think you can finish the course with a passing grade and you are using available resources (tutors/help room/study groups, Academic Skills Center, etc.), conferring with the instructor, and you believe you are making progress as the semester continues, then persisting might be preferable. Have a frank discussion with your instructor. Make sure that you understand how the grading is done in the class. Know what grades you have to date and what the best/worst case scenario will be at the end of the semester. Also, ask yourself if you are putting so much time into one course that you must neglect your other courses, thereby, perhaps pulling down all your grades.

If you must withdraw from a course, consider it a learning experience. Identify the problems that you encountered and determine how to avoid the same problems in the future, whether or not you repeat the course from which you withdrew. Consider that if you have problems in reading, memorization, problem solving, time management or some other basic skill, the same problems may affect some of your other courses. For example, students who have difficulty in math often also have difficulty in chemistry, biology, and courses that involve problem solving. These same students may excel in courses that involve reading and writing. Not all courses require the same study habits and skills. You can consult with an instructor in the Academic Skills Instructional Program (ASIP) to better understand your learning styles.

Medical withdrawal from a course (form included).

If you experience serious medical problems that interfere with your ability to successfully complete a course in which you are enrolled, you should schedule an appointment with your academic dean without delay to discuss your options, including the possibility of withdrawing from the course. Depending upon how debilitating your medical situation is, and when in the semester your health concerns emerge, it may be the case that other types of relief, such as an incomplete or even a medical leave of absence, are more appropriate.

The decision whether to authorize a course withdrawal is an administrative one to be made by your academic dean.  If you request permission to withdraw from a course for medical reasons, your dean’s decision will be informed by the opinion of your attending medical practitioner but not driven by it. Beyond the information provided by your doctor, the dean will take into account all that is known about your situation at Duke including such factors as your medical history, your use of helpful resources in the past, your compliance with medical expectations, how you have conducted your academic responsibilities in courses to date, and other such indicators that you have been managing your condition and your academic affairs in responsible ways.

Because how you conduct your medical and academic affairs is among the factors that will be considered by the dean in his or he decision whether to authorize a medical course withdrawal, it is important that you attend classes and keep up with your work in accordance with your instructors’ expectations throughout the semester.  If due to a serious illness you fall behind in your work it is very important that you contact your instructor, your dean, and/or your doctor or therapist immediately so that you can get the help that you need and can demonstrate you efforts to manage your illness responsibly.

The deadline for a medical withdrawal from a course is the same as for all other course withdrawals, i.e., a date four weeks prior to the last day of classes. The procedures you must follow to withdraw from a course are the same as for other course withdrawals.

Note: If you seek a second or subsequent medical withdrawal to an underload for a chronic condition, this can be indicative of a condition that may make you eligible for accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Accordingly, you may want to consult with a representative of the  Student Disability Access Office (if you are not already registered with that office) to discuss your eligibility for accommodations through that office, including the possibility of an additional medical course withdrawal.

Procedure

To withdraw from a course, you will need to pick up a course withdrawal form from your academic dean's office, get the signature of the instructor, and return the form to the dean's office by the date indicated on the form.

When withdrawing from a course to an underload--since this is generally only permitted once--you should expect to meet with your dean to discuss the matter. Contact your academic dean's office for information about how to proceed. If you seek permission to withdraw from a course to an underload for medical reasons, you will have to provide additional documentation to your academic dean. In order for the dean to be able to understand your medical situation and treatment history clearly and to be able to factor them appropriately into his/her decision whether to authorize a medical course withdrawal, you are expected to provide your attending health practitioner with the following form to complete and return to the dean:

            Online Form: Attending Healthcare Provider’s Questionnaire

You are also asked to sign a waiver of confidentiality that will permit your dean to speak with the healthcare provider to resolve any questions that may arise from the information contained in the questionnaire submitted.

Last updated: July 28, 2011

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Dean's Excuses

On October 9, 2003, the Faculty Councils of Arts and Sciences and the Pratt School of Engineering approved a new policy for notifying instructors when students miss graded work due to short-term illness. For full details on the new policy, see Short-term Illness Policy. Dean's excuses will no longer be issued for short-term illness. In accordance with faculty policy, students who miss graded assignments for the following reasons may receive a Dean's Excuse:

  • Long-term illness
  • Personal or family emergency (known to and approved by your dean)
  • Authorized representation of the University off campus

If you must miss a graded assignment due to one of the three circumstances listed above, you should contact your Academic Dean. A Dean's Excuse does not exempt you from completing the assignment. Rather it makes you eligible for accommodation according to the policy set by the instructor in the course.

No Dean's excuses are issued for missing classes, only graded assignments. However, in the case of long-term illness or personal or family emergency, it may be appropriate for your academic dean to notify your instructors that you will be away from class for a period of time.

Last updated: November 19, 2003

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Dean's List and Dean's List with Distinction

When determining a student's eligibility, Duke will consider only grades earned in Duke courses, including those earned in Duke Study Abroad programs and in courses covered by the Interinstitutional Agreement.

To qualify for Dean's List, a Pratt undergraduate must fulfill the following criteria:

  1. Carry a normal academic load including four credits s other than dance performances/technique, physical education activity, music activity, and house courses;
  2. Earn grades other than a "P" in at least three semester courses;
  3. Receive no incomplete or failing grades;
  4. Earn a semester grade point average that is placed in the highest one third of undergraduates in Pratt.

For information about Graduation With Departmental Distinction, click here.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Declaring a Major

Engineering students are urged to declare a major before registering for classes for the first semester of their sophomore year. Students are required to declare by the time of registration for the first semester of the junior year. You may declare your major online by going to www.pratt.duke.edu/forms/declaration-of-major.

Last updated: May 13, 2010

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Directors of Undergraduate Studies

Biomedical Engineering

Patrick Wolf
Director of Undergraduate Studies
1149 Fitzpatrick Center (FCIEMAS)
919-660-5114
patrick.wolf@duke.edu

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Joseph Nadeau
Director of Undergraduate Studies
173 Hudson Hall Annex
919-660-5216
nadeau@duke.edu

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Lisa Huettel
Director of Undergraduate Studies
106 Hudson Hall
919-660-5237
lisa.huettel@duke.edu

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Donald Bliss
Director of Undergraduate Studies
148b Hudson Hall
919-660-5315
donald.bliss@duke.edu

Visit T-Reqs for the Trinity Directors of Undergraduate Studies.

Last updated: January 11, 2010

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Directors of Graduate Studies

Biomedical Engineering

Adam Wax
Director of Graduate Studies
2671 Fitzpatrick Center (FCIEMAS)
919-660-5143
a.wax@duke.edu

Civil and Environmental Engineering

John Dolbow
Director of Graduate Studies
164 Hudson Hall
919-660-5202

john.dolbow@duke.edu

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Steve Cummer
Director of Graduate Studies
130 Hudson Hall
919-660-5245
dgs@ee.duke.edu

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Stefan Zauscher
Director of Graduate Studies
144 Hudson Hall
919-660-5360

zauscher@duke.edu

Masters of Engineering Management Program

Jeff Glass, Ph.D.
(919) 660-5431
jeff.glass@duke.edu

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Diploma Order

Each fall, Engineering seniors are asked to notify the Dean's office of their plans for graduation. The B.S.E. degree is awarded in December, May, and September of each year. Diplomas are mailed to students who graduate in December and September, but they may participate in Commencement exercises the following May.

All seniors are required to complete the Diploma Form. It is particularly important that information is typed without error, as the diploma will be ordered from what appears on the form. Also note, the name on the Diploma Form MUST match the name on record with the Registrar in order to be processed. This form must be completed by the first Monday of each November for the following December, May, and September graduations. If your plans are uncertain at this time, please indicate the earliest possible graduation date.

Last updated September 23, 2009

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Dropping a Course

The first two weeks of every semester is known as the "Drop/Add period". During the first week of class, you can use ACES online to add a course if there are seats available. Check the course listings on ACES and be sure that you check for prerequisites that might be required for the course. During the second week, you can still add a course, but you will need to obtain a permission number from the instructor of the course you want to add. You'll use the permission number when you add the course through ACES. No permission number is necessary during the first week unless enrollment in a specific course is by permission only.

After the end of the Drop/Add period, you can no longer add a new course. The only exception would be if you needed to correct your schedule in the week after Drop/Add (the Schedule Correction Period). You should always review your schedule as soon as the Drop/Add period is over every semester to be sure you're enrolled in the correct courses.

Last updated: November 19, 2003

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Drop/Add Period

You may drop a course through ACES anytime prior to the end of the Drop/Add period. You do not need an instructor's permission, but you do need to be sure you remain in at least 4.0 credits, the minimum load. If you drop a course, it does not appear on your Duke transcript.

After the drop/add period ends, you can no longer drop a course, but you may be able to "withdraw" from a course by completing the paperwork to receive a grade of WP or WF in the course with the written approval of your Academic Deans. There are special requirements for withdrawing from a course during the semester, so be sure to read that section.

Pass/fail grading and audit status for courses must be finalized by the close of Drop/Add, and may not be corrected after.

Last updated: November 19, 2003

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Exclusion of Disruptive Students

The successful conduct of a course depends upon a spirit of mutual respect and cooperation among its participants. If a student disrupts a class in such a way that it seriously compromises the educational experience of the course for other students and/or prevents the instructor from accomplishing the goals of the course as outlined in the syllabus, the instructor may require the student to leave the class meeting. The student's academic dean will be notified of this action. The following process will then be implemented as necessary and appropriate:

  1. The student may not return to the course until the matter has been resolved. It is expected that the instructor and the student will meet to discuss and agree upon the conditions under which the student may return to the course. These conditions will be set out in writing and the student's academic dean will receive a copy of them.
  2. If the disruptive behavior continues in spite of this agreement, or if the instructor and the student fail to reach an agreement, the matter is referred to the student's academic dean who will begin the process of removing the student from the course. If the student is permanently excluded from the course, the instructor will assign a grade of WP or WF, depending upon whether the student was passing or failing the course immediately prior to the exclusion.
  3. If the student wishes to appeal his or her exclusion from a course, the appeal is to be directed to the Senior Associate Dean of Trinity College or the Pratt School of Engineering, who serves as the academic appellate officer. The decision of the Senior Associate Dean in such a case is final.
  4. The student's academic dean may also refer the matter to the Office of Judicial Affairs (should link to http://judicial.studentaffairs.duke.edu/), which will determine whether the student should be formally charged with violation of University policies such as "Classroom Disruption," "Disorderly Conduct," and/or "Failure to Comply."

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Duke Community Standard

The Duke Community Standard definitions and a discussion of how the standard is being applied are available online.

Last updated: November 19, 2003

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Education Records

In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (also known as FERPA or the Buckley Amendment), Duke University generally permits students to inspect their educational records and protects the information from disclosure to third parties without the student's consent. There are certain implications for instructors.

Last updated: November 19, 2003

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Eligible to Enroll

Prior to the beginning of your registration window, you must meet with your faculty adviser. At that meeting, your adviser will electronically click the "Eligible to Enroll" button, thus allowing you to register for your classes in ACES.

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Engineering Degree Requirements

Degree requirements

The B.S.E. degree is awarded to students each May, September, and December. Students who graduate in September or December receive their diplomas by mail, but they are welcome to take part in commencement exercises the following May. In the fall, the Dean's Office asks each senior to complete a form indicating the expected date of graduation. It is the student's responsibility to request that his or her name be included on the graduation list. A copy of each student's final grade report is sent for review to the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the major department immediately before final graduation lists are prepared. Certification for graduation is made by the Associate Dean and the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the department of the student's first major. In order to graduate a student must have passed 34 semester courses (within a period of 10 academic semesters of enrollment), and must have obtained grades of P, C-, or better in 32 semester courses. In addition, all the curriculum requirements of the Engineering School and the major department, as set forth in the University Bulletin, must be met.

General Requirements

Writing (1)
This requirement is met by completing a University Writing Course.

Mathematics (5)
 The sequence for all four departments is: Mathematics 31, 32, 103, 107, and 108. Additional math courses are required per department, for example BME and CEE require Stats 113 and ECE requires either Math 135 or Stats 113.

Natural Science (4)
This requirement is met by completing Chemistry (19) 31L, Physics 61L and 62L, and an elective course in one of the natural science departments which presents fundamental knowledge about nature and its phenomena, preferably including quantitative expression.

Note for the Class of 2012 and 2013:  A partial list of disallowed courses includes all mathematics, computer science, and statistics courses, as well as all BAA courses, BIO 10, 42, 43D, 44, 45S, 46, 47, 49S, 50, 85, 90, 93S, 96D, 100, 102, 107, 111; CHEM 83, 103; EOS 130; and PHY 32, 35, 36, 37, and 49S.  No environmental sciences and policy, psychology or *seminar* courses with NS codes are accepted as a natural science.  Since new courses are offered that may not be on the disallowed list, you should contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies in your department if you have any questions regarding the acceptability of a particular course.

Note for the Class of 2014 and beyond:  Each department maintains a list of allowed courses that will satisfy the Natural Science requirement. Consult those department websites and/or departmental offices.

Humanities and Social Science (5)
This requirement is met by completion of five courses selected from at least three of the following four areas of knowledge: Arts, Literatures and Performance (ALP), Civilizations (CZ), Foreign Languages (FL), and Social Sciences (SS). At least one course must be classified SS. In order to provide depth in the subject matter, at least two of the five courses must be selected from a single department and at least one of those courses must be 100-level or above. Courses selected must be those that present essential subject matter and substance of the discipline.

Engineering and Sciences (4)
This requirement is met by completion of one course from each of four of the following seven areas: digital systems, electrical science, information and computer science, mechanics (solid and fluid), materials science, systems analysis, and thermal science and transfer processes. Students are expected to have acquired digital-computer programming capability before their sophomore year. The programming capability is generally satisfied by Engineering 53L, CPS 100.

Departmental Requirements (15)
The department administering the major field of study will specify this requirement. In general, it will consist of both required courses and electives to be planned in consultation with the departmental adviser. Including the 4 credits in engineering and applied sciences listed under general requirements, a total of 13.0 credits in engineering work are required.

Total Minimum Requirements: 34

Last updated: May 13, 2010

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Grades

At semester's end, instructors submit a letter grade for each student in a course. If, because of serious illness or other emergency, you cannot complete all the work for a course, you may request assignment of a grade of "I" (Incomplete) in a course. If you fail to take a final exam in a course at the scheduled time, the instructor will record a grade of "X" (absence from a final exam). An "N" indicates that no grade has been submitted. A detailed discussion of grades is available in the Bulletin of Undergraduate Instruction.

Freshmen and sophomores who excel academically may be eligible for Dean's List and/or membership in the freshmen honor society Phi Eta Sigma.

If you receive low grades (Ds and Fs), it can result in an academic warning, academic probation, or academic withdrawal (see below). You are also at risk of not meeting Continuation Requirements. A summary of the consequences of D and F grades is below.

Grade Enrolled in: Result:
First Semester Freshmen
F 4 credits Academic warning
DD, DF, FF 4 credits Academic probation for succeeding semester
DD, F 4 credits Academic probation for succeeding semester
FFF 4 credits Academic withdrawal from Duke for two semesters
FF 3 credits Academic withdrawal from Duke for two semesters
All other semesters
F 4 credits Academic warning
Second D 4 credits Academic warning
DDD 4 credits Academic probation for succeeding semester
DDD 4 credits Academic probation for succeeding semester
DF 4 credits Academic probation for succeeding semester
FF (passing 3 credits) 5 credits Academic probation for succeeding semester
DDDD Two consecutive semesters Academic probation for succeeding semester
DDDF Two consecutive semesters Academic probation for succeeding semester
DDFF Two consecutive semesters Academic probation for succeeding semester
FF 4 credits Academic withdrawal from Duke for two semesters
F 4 credits Academic withdrawal from Duke for two semesters

Last updated: November 19, 2003

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Grade Notations

Passing Grades

    * A    (Exceptional)
    * B    (Superior)
    * C    (Satisfactory)
    * D    (Low pass)
    * These grades may be modified by a plus (+) or minus (-).  See Repeating a Course for information about repeating a course if you earn a D grade.
    * S    (Satisfactory, issued when course was completed on the S/U option, equivalent to a letter grade of C- or better)


Failing Grades

    * F    (Failing)
    * U    (Unsatisfactory, issued when course was completed on the S/U option, equivalent to a letter grade of  D+ or worse)


Other Grade Notations

    * I    (Incomplete, issued when course work is incomplete)
    * X    (Absent from final examination)
    * Z    (Satisfactory completion of 1st half of a two-semester course sequence; final grade for both courses is assigned at the end of the second course in the sequence.)
    * W    (Student withdrawn from the course with dean's approval)
    * N    (No grade submitted by the instructor)
    * AD (Student audited the course)
    * WA (Student withdrew from an audited course)

Last updated: May 10, 2011

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Graduating Early

It is sometimes possible to graduate one semester or two semesters early, if all of your degree requirements are met. In these instances, you may use additional AP/IPC/PMC credits (called acceleration credits) toward the 34 credits required for graduation.

If you wish to graduate early, you should discuss your intended plans with your dean to be sure that you understand graduation requirements and the pros and cons of such a decision. Although you may have a keen desire now to finish at Duke and get on with your life, and perhaps save a year of tuition, you may feel differently after another semester or two. This is the only time in your life when you will be able to study freely and independently whatever you wish. Take advantage of the time. You might take a semester to travel or study abroad. This might let you take some time off but also graduate with your class. You could become involved in Duke or community projects-education occurs outside of the classroom as well. Work on your communication and writing skills. If you will be seeking admission to a professional school, note that such schools may not necessarily be interested in someone applying a year early. Maturity and life experiences are considered along with courses, grades, and standardized test scores.
Once you are absolutely sure of an early graduation, you can obtain an "Undergraduate Graduation Date Change Form" from your dean. Fill it out, have it signed by your dean, and your dean will notify the registrar and have your anticipated graduation date changed. The deadline for accelerating your degree is the end of the fifth semester of enrollment. Be careful in changing your graduation date. If you later change your mind, your registration enrollment period will be moved back to the last enrollment window.

Last updated: November 19, 2003

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Harassment

Duke University has a harassment policy in place that applies to all members of the University community and that is intended to insure that Duke is a safe place in which to work and study.

If you have experienced what you regard to be harassment, please contact Dean Lynn White for Trinity College of Arts and Sciences or Dean Connie Simmons, (csimmons@duke.edu), Pratt School of Engineering. An instructor who has questions regarding harassment or who would like to facilitate a student's referral should contact Dean Simmons.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Honor Code

Complete and up-to-date information on Duke University's Honor Code and Community Standard can be found at the Academic Integrity Council's Undergraduate Information page.

Honors, Academic
Duke University officially recognizes the following school-wide honors/honor societies in Trinity College and the Pratt School of Engineering. Each has a long and distinguished reputation at Duke and throughout the United States. (For a more detailed description of the standards and eligibility, see "Academic Recognition and Honors" in the Bulletin of Undergraduate Instruction.)

 

Honor/honor society Recognition Standards Eligible students
Dean's List Academic excellence in a semester Semester GPA places student enrolled in 4 or more courses in the top 1/3 of all undergraduates in Trinity College or by class in Pratt. May be earned each semester of enrollment. All undergraduates within Trinity and by class in Pratt
Dean's List with Distinction Academic excellence in a semester Semester GPA places student enrolled in 4 or more courses in the top 10% of all undergrads in TC. May be earned each semester of enrollment. All undergraduates within Trinity College and by class in Pratt
Latin Honors Recognition Standards Eligible students
Summa cum laude Academic excellence over Duke career Cumulative GPA places student in the highest 5% of the previous year's graduating class in Trinity College or Pratt. All undergraduates within Trinity College and by class in Pratt
Magna cum Laude Academic excellence over Duke career Cumulative GPA places student in the next highest 10% of the previous year's graduating class in Trinity College or Pratt. All undergraduates within Trinity College and by class in Pratt
Cum Laude Academic excellence over Duke career Cumulative GPA places student in the next highest 10% of the previous year's graduating class in Trinity College or Pratt. All undergraduates within Trinity College and by class in Pratt
Phi Eta Sigma Academic excellence in first year GPA of 3.5 or higher in 4 full courses in the first semester or 3.5 or higher in 8 full courses in the first year. All first-year undergraduate students
Phi Beta Kappa Academic excellence and moral character Three cycles of election (early, regular, deferred) based on number of graded credits at Duke and cumulative GPA; no more than 10% of a graduating class. All undergraduates within their respective school
Tau Beta Pi Academic excellence and exemplary character Upper 8th of the junior class and upper 5% of the senior class Pratt undergraduates
Golden Key Academic excellence Top 15% of juniors and seniors in all fields of study in their respective class All undergraduates within their respective school

Beyond these honors, academically distinguished undergraduates may be eligible for one or more prestigious international postgraduate scholarships, such as the Fulbright, Gates, Luce, Marshall, Rhodes, and Winston Churchill.

Last updated: July 27, 2004

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Incomplete Course Work

Policy

If you find that you are unable to complete your work for a course because of illness, emergency, or reasonable cause, you should discuss this with your instructor and your academic dean. It is sometimes possible for your instructor to issue you an Incomplete, or "I." This will allow you to complete the course work after the semester has finished. There are several issues that you and your instructor should be aware of if you are thinking about requesting an Incomplete.

  • Once recorded, a notation of "I" remains on your transcript even after the final grade is assigned.
  • If you receive an "I" in a course, you forfeit eligibility for Dean’s List honors in that semester.
  • If your work is incomplete and you are also absent from the final examination, the instructor is expected to assign an "X" for the course (see also Absence from a Final Exam).
  • There are specific deadlines for completing incomplete work (see below) and the deadlines for undergraduates differ from those that apply to graduate students.

Deadlines for Completing an Incomplete Course

If you are in a full course load (or overload) and have only one "I" and no other problem grades (X, U, F), the deadline for completing the "I" is the following:

Unless otherwise limited, you will have until the last class day of the 5th week of the subsequent semester to complete the work for the course. If you receive an "I" in the fall, you must complete it no later than the 5th week of the spring semester; if you receive an "I" in the spring or summer, you must complete it no later than the 5th week of the fall semester. However, instructors may set earlier deadlines if they wish, in which case they must make their intentions known to the University Registrar in writing by completing a “Request for Assignment of an Incomplete" form. Instructors have until the end of the 6th week of classes to submit a grade to the University Registrar. If a passing grade is not submitted by this time, the "I" will be converted to "F." An exception to this deadline applies if you are not enrolled for the semester following the assignment of the Incomplete. In that case, the "I" remains on your record until the next semester you are enrolled and converts to "F" if a grade has not been reported by the end of the sixth week of that semester.

If you receive multiple "I" grades or an "I" in combination with another problem grade or grades or while on an approved underload, consider the following:

In order to continue from one semester to the next, students must pass at least 3 courses (2 courses in the 1st semester of enrollment). This requirement is termed "semester continuation" (see Continuation Requirements). Courses in which an "I" is given are not considered passed until a passing grade has been submitted by the instructor to the University Registrar and recorded. Therefore, if you have multiple “I” and/or “X” grades such that you have not received passing grades in at least 3.0 courses, you may be at risk of not being able to continue into the next semester at Duke unless you complete one or more "Is" by an earlier deadline. Students who do not meet semester continuation requirements before the start of the next semester are subject to academic dismissal for two semesters.

If you receive more than one "I," if you receive an "I" in combination with another problem grade (X, U, F), or if you are in a course underload and receive an "I" and are thereby failing to meet semester continuation requirements, you will be notified by your academic dean.  In this case, you will be given the opportunity to complete the necessary work before the beginning of the next semester.

When your continuation at Duke is in question the following policies apply:

  • If you fail to meet semester continuation at the end of the fall semester, you will need to have passing grades recorded in at least 3.0 courses by the day before classes begin in the spring semester.
  • If you fail to meet semester continuation at the end of the spring semester, you will need to have passing grades recorded in at least 3.0 courses by one week prior to the first day of classes for Summer Term II.
  • If you fail to meet semester continuation at the end of the spring semester, you will not be eligible to enroll in Summer Session I, including Study Abroad, unless you have passing grades recorded in at least 3.0 courses before the start of Summer Session I.
  • If by completing incomplete work you meet semester continuation requirements by the beginning of Summer Session II, you may enroll in Summer Session II.

If you have questions about these policies, please see your academic dean.

Procedure
To obtain an Incomplete, both you and your instructor must agree on the work that remains to be completed and you must agree on a deadline (or deadlines) for turning in that work. You must meet with an academic dean to obtain the Request for Assignment of the Incomplete Form.  You and your instructor should fill out the form and then sign it. Submit the form to your academic dean for approval. Please note that your dean will need to know if you are anticipating other Incompletes to help you plan for any possible continuation problems as outlined above. Incompletes are generally only appropriate for limited amounts of work due late in the semester. Incompletes may not be possible or may not be approved if there are excessive absences or if significant work is remaining.

Last updated: May 13, 2010

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Interdisciplinary Programs (IDEAS)

The interdisciplinary option provides for special programs of study in such fields as biochemical engineering, energy conversion, engineering mechanics, materials science, ocean engineering, pollution control, systems and controls, and urban engineering, leading to the B.S.E. degree. Any student, in consultation with an adviser and appropriate faculty members, may propose a unique combination of courses designed to meet particular career objectives. The proposal (forms available in the Dean's Office, 305 Teer Building), must be submitted to the Engineering Faculty Council, through the Dean, for approval; it may be submitted as early as the second semester of the freshman year and must be submitted before the senior year. A detailed description of the proposal requirements is included in the Bulletin of Undergraduate Instruction.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Inter-Institutional Courses

You can sign up for one course at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, NC State University, or NC Central University each semester through an inter-institutional agreement that exists among these institutions. You can only take a course through the inter-institutional agreement if it is not being offered at Duke during the same calendar year. Grades for inter-institutional courses will appear on your transcript and will be factored into your grade point average. The courses themselves may count toward Areas of Knowledge, but not Inquiries or Competencies under the Curriculum. In Pratt, such courses may count towards the major. Information on inter-institutional courses can be found at the Registrar's Web site.

Fill out an inter-institutional approval form (link to PDF, 22KB) and have it approved and signed by the Duke Director of Undergraduate Studies in the department in which the course would fall. Then have the form signed by an Academic Dean.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Leave of Absence

A leave of absence is a temporary interruption of one's studies at Duke, generally for a period of one or two semesters. There are essentially two types of leave:

  • A Personal Leave of Absence, allows you to leave Duke for one or two semesters with the approval of your Academic Dean. A Personal Leave of Absence usually starts after one semester ends and before the next semester begins. Only rarely are personal leaves allowed while a semester is in progress. Reasons why you might consider a leave of absence include the desire to travel, participate in a non-academic program, work and earn money, support a family during a crisis, or frequently to gain a sense of direction. While on a personal leave, you can take courses at another four-year institution for transfer credit at Duke, though you are limited in how much credit will transfer by the normal rules for transfer credit. You are not allowed to enroll full-time in another university while on a leave of absence from Duke. Campus housing is preserved as long as the appropriate forms and deadlines are met.
  • A Medical Leave of Absence is possible at any time and should be considered if due to personal or health problems continuing in your courses is impossible. Grades of W (withdrawn) are issued for each of your courses. The deadline for a Medical Leave of Absence is the last day of classes in a semester. Medical leaves are not granted once classes have ended and final exams have begun.

Students placed on medical leaves may return after two semesters following the semester in which the leave is granted or as soon thereafter as they are deemed healthy enough to resume a full-time course of study.

Students who withdraw during the first or second week of the semester receive 80% of their tuition back. During the third-fifth weeks, they receive 60% of their tuition, and during the sixth week, 20% of their tuition. Residence hall charges are pro-rated depending upon the number of days a room is occupied. For more information, contact the Bursar's Office and Housing.

If you are contemplating a personal or medical leave, you should make an appointment to meet with one of your Academic Dean as soon as possible. In some cases, there may be other options available to you and a frank discussion of the problems you are facing may be useful to you.

  • For a Personal Leave of Absence, you need only to explain your reasons and sign a form.
  • For a Medical Leave of Absence, you will be required to provide a letter from a health professional, physician or therapist recommending a medical leave.

Note: Students granted a leave of absence are not permitted to reside in university housing, participate in student activities, or be on campus for the duration of their leave. Students who do not adhere to this policy jeopardize their eligibility to be reinstated as active student in the university. If you have any questions about this policy, please contact your academic dean.

Returning from a Personal Leave of Absence requires no action on your part. The Registrar's Office will send you your PIN at the appropriate time so that you can register online. Returning from a Medical Leave of Absence requires your Academic Deans’ approval. You will send a detailed letter to your Academic Dean your recovery and why you think you're ready to return to Duke as a full-time student. You will also have your health care provider, physician or therapist send a similar letter to your Academic Dean. Once your return is approved, the Registrar's Office will send you your PIN so that you can register online.

If you have taken a one or two semester leave of absence and wish to extend it, you may petition your Academic Dean for additional time. A leave of absence may not generally extend beyond three semesters, not including summers. For more prolonged absences, you are usually expected to withdraw from Duke with the option of applying for readmission at a later date. If you have taken a Medical Leave of Absence, returned to Duke, and now find that a second Medical Leave of Absence may be warranted, you should consult with your Academic Deans.

Last updated: August 9, 2011

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Long Term and Chronic Illness

Pratt recognizes that some students will enter Duke with a chronic illness, or will develop a medical condition that persists; such conditions may have an impact on academic life as well as campus life. If you have a chronic illness or persistent medical condition, you should contact your academic dean and inform her or him of the situation. Your Academic Dean will assist in planning how to manage your situation.

Added: February 2, 2009

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Major, Minors and Certificates

Double Majors
Many students complete the requirements for a departmental major in arts and sciences while completing the requirements for a Bachelor of Science in Engineering degree, or satisfy simultaneously the requirements for two engineering majors. The second major requirements consist of the set of specific and elective courses in the discipline which are required by the department for its primary majors. Biomedical/Electrical Engineering, Biomedical/Mechanical and Electrical Engineering/Computer Science are common double majors. Among the second majors most commonly completed in Arts & Sciences by engineering students are Public Policy Studies, Economics, Mathematics and History.

Minors
Most of the departments in Trinity College of Arts and Sciences have established minors and engineering students are eligible to enroll in them. The courses required for minors are specified by the department/academic program. A minimum of five courses is required, including at least three above the introductory level.

Certificate Programs
Certificate programs are topically organized courses of study that offer a distinctive, usually interdisciplinary, approach to a subject matter not available within any single academic unit. They include: The Arts; Dance; Film/Video/Digital; Health Policy; Markets and Management Studies; Neurosciences. See Pratt's Certificate programs.

International Honors Program
The International Honors Program in Engineering is a certificate program consisting of six to eight semester courses, depending on the foreign language level proficiency of the student. Up to three language courses beyond the intermediate level may be required. With advanced planning, all of the IHP course requirements may fulfill humanities and social sciences or approved elective requirements which are included in the school's engineering programs. Early planning and advising are essential to fulfilling all IHP requirements, which includes an internship or study abroad as part of the baccalaureate degree program. More details can be found on the International Honors Program Web site.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Mid-term Grades

All first year students will receive mid-term grades from their instructors for the fall and spring semesters. These grades can be viewed on ACES. Students with 2 or more D or F grades will be called in for a meeting with the Dean's Office.

Sophomores, juniors and seniors receive mid-term grades only when instructors report D or F grades. These mid-term grades are also available to view on ACES.

Last updated: May 10, 2011

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Part-time Degree Status

Students who have been admitted for full-time study must enroll in a normal course load, i.e. at least four course credits per semester. Academic Deans may permit students with compelling reasons in a normal course load to withdraw from one course prior to the final four weeks of classes. Such students are still considered full-time degree candidates at Duke. However, some students may be bound by scholarship regulations concerning course load each semester; thus students who wish to withdraw to an underload should check the condition of such awards. Students who wish to withdraw to an underload should check with the appropriate offices.

Part-time students can enroll in no more than two 1.0 credit courses (not including a 0.5 credit physical education credit) per semester. Part-time students are not eligible for university housing. Students who wish to change from full-time to part-time status should confer with their Academic Dean. Graduating seniors may request permission for part-time study for their last semester. Such requests should be made by April 15th of the year preceding the year in which part-time study will be conducted.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Personal Emergencies

The university recognizes that students are sometimes confronted with emergency situations that are unexpected and stressful. There are a number of academic and personal support staff available on campus to help a student identify options and make appropriate decisions.

If you are faced with a personal or family emergency or a health condition that interferes with your ability to attend or complete classes, you should contact one of Academic Deans. Your Dean can notify your professors of your situation if you wish, provide Dean's Excuses for missed assignments and graded work, and help you make choices as necessary. If you are unable to notify your Dean's office yourself, you can ask a roommate, RA, family member or other individual to call for you. You may also wish to contact your adviser, CAPS or the Women's Center, as appropriate.

Last updated: May 13, 2010

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Plagiarism, Cheating and Dishonesty

As a member of the Duke community, you will be contributing to the scholarly achievements of our university through your work both in and outside of the classroom. In high school you probably learned about documenting sources properly and avoiding plagiarism. Plagiarism, broadly speaking, is claiming someone else's work as your own. At the college level, plagiarism is considered to be a serious violation of academic integrity, even if it is not intentional. You will find information on the different forms of plagiarism, proper scholarly procedure and links to helpful web sites on the Plagiarism Tutorial Web site. Freshmen are required to take this tutorial prior to registering for the spring semester.

"Cheating" involves a variety of actions, including the procurement of exam questions without an instructor's permission, copying answers on an exam, copying material for a lab report, doing assignments for someone else, intentionally misreporting results for a class, changing grades or answers during regrades, and forging documents.

"Academic contempt" is a failure to adhere to an instructor's directions with respect to academic integrity and honesty, e.g. working with another individual on an assignment when the instructions were to work by yourself, failing to put notes and books away during an exam, or taking more time than allotted on a take-home final.

Students accused of plagiarism, cheating, academic contempt or other instances of academic dishonesty can be brought before the judicial board. If found responsible, sanctions can range from required service work to dismissal for several semesters. Faculty can impose their own sanctions for a class. These may vary from requiring a student to rewrite a paper to an automatic F.

Last updated: November 19, 2003

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Probation

You will be placed on "Probation" for a semester if you accumulate a certain number of D and F grades. See the section on grades for a detailed listing of grades and outcomes. A semester of probation is designed to serve as a "wake-up" call. It is a sign that you are in imminent danger of being withdrawn from Duke for academic reasons.

Students with poor grades in the fall will be placed on probation in the spring. Students with poor grades in the spring will be placed on probation in the fall. If, due to exceptional circumstances, you petition for and are permitted to withdraw from a course to an underload during your semester of probation, your probationary status will be automatically extended to the next semester. Parent(s)/guardian(s) are notified of probationary status. Probationary information is not placed on your official transcript.

If your semester academic record warrants probation you will receive notification from one of your Academic Deans.

  • You must meet with a Dean.
  • You must acknowledge your probation in writing by signing an acknowledgment form. Failure to sign the acknowledgment form by the end of the first week of class will result in dismissal.
  • You must enroll in four and only four full credit (1.0 credit) courses for the semester of probation.
  • Your courses must be approved by a Dean.
  • At the end of the probationary semester, if you maintain a C (2.0) average or you have no grade lower than a C- for the semester, you will clear probation. If you fail to clear probation, you will be academically withdrawn from Duke for two semesters. Regardless of probation, you must still meet all continuation requirements.

If you are placed on probation, you should take the time to address your strengths and weaknesses in study skills and habits and also identify problems that have disrupted your academic program. You should institute changes wherever appropriate. We urge you to confer with your Academic Deans, Adviser, Instructor, a counselor at CAPS, or with a member of the staff of the Academic Resource Center, as appropriate, early in the semester of probation.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Readmission

Students who withdraw from Pratt for voluntary or involuntary reasons and wish to return must complete an application for readmission and return it to the Associate Dean of the School of Engineering After all the credentials listed have been filed, the candidate's application will be referred to a Committee on Readmissions. A recommendation will be made by this Committee to the Associate Dean who will then inform the candidate of the decision on the application. If the candidate is readmitted, registration materials will be forwarded once it is confirmed that the bursar's account is clear.

In order to be considered for readmission for the semester indicated, applications and ALL supporting documents for readmission must be completed by NOVEMBER 1 for readmission in JANUARY, by APRIL 1 for SUMMER sessions, and by JULY 1 for readmission in AUGUST. Students whose application materials are not complete will not be eligible for consideration. For a complete list of instructions and application, click here.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Registration

Registration for spring semester courses opens in late October or early November and registration for the fall semester opens in March. Prior to these dates, you should schedule a meeting with your adviser to discuss your upcoming registration. This is a good time to consider your overall goals, evaluate your performance to date, and make changes as necessary. Your adviser will provide you with registration clearance so that you can register online when your registration window opens. Registration windows are based on the last two digits of the Student ID number found on ACES. Note, this is different than the Unique ID number found on the back of the Duke Card.

Last updated: May 10, 2011

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Religious Holidays

Pratt and Trinity College follow the same guidelines for observing religious holidays. If you will miss class work in observance of an officially recognized religious holiday, you should speak directly with your instructor beforehand. Recognized religious holidays are covered by University policy, so no Dean's excuse is needed or issued.

Students who need an official excuse to be absent from class for religious holidays not included on this list should contact one of the Academic Deans that the holiday of concern would necessitate missing class.

If an instructor is unable or unwilling to grant a request, you should consult Dean Simmons or Dean Franzoni. It is the responsibility of each instructor to communicate the University policy to his or her students and to accommodate reasonable requests.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Repeating a Course

You cannot repeat a course in which you earned a grade of C- or better. An engineering student who has earned a grade of D-, D, or D+ in a required mathematics, science or a required engineering course, may with permission of his or her adviser, director of undergraduate studies, and academic dean, repeat the course. To do this, you'll need to fill out a course repeat request form (PDF). The form needs to be signed by the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the department in which the course will be repeated, and then must be approved by your Academic Dean.

If you repeat the course, both grades will appear on your transcript and both will be calculated into your grade point average. Only one will count toward the 34 courses/credits required for graduation and for fulfillment of continuation requirements.

Repeating a course may be warranted when it is part of a sequence of courses in a discipline of importance to your academic future. Repeating the course may be particularly important if much of the course material was beyond your comprehension and there are serious gaps in your knowledge, Experience suggests that progressing uninterrupted to the next level when your background in a subject is weak will often lead to a repetition of the original difficulties, compounded by the weak foundation from the first semester. You would probably do better to repeat the course with the help of a tutor or other support from the Academic Resource Center before going on to the next level in the subject.

If you have no compelling need to repeat a course, there may be no advantage to doing so. It may be better to take other course work in which you are more interested and experienced and are more likely to meet with success.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory Grading Option

Policy

With the consent of the instructor and your academic dean, you can register for grading on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) basis in one course per semester or summer session, though only four (4) courses taken on this basis may be counted toward the 34 courses required for graduation.  The limit of four does not apply to courses that are only offered on the S/U basis. A grade of S will be awarded if you earn the equivalent of a letter grade of C- or better, while a U will be awarded for the equivalent of a D+ or worse grade.  Neither an S nor a U will be factored into the grade point average.  If you receive a U, you will receive no credit for the course and will be ineligible for dean's list in that semester. An engineering student may choose to be graded on a S/U basis in up to four unrestricted electives.  Taking a course on the S/U basis may make you ineligible for the dean's list.  You cannot study abroad or on a domestic study away program and receive credit at Duke for a course taken on an S/U or pass/fail basis.

Procedure

If you wish to take a course on the S/U basis, you must obtain permission from the instructor and your academic dean.   You have until one week after the drop/add period ends in the fall or spring semester to secure permission to do so.  (Summer term students must do so by the end of the drop/add period.)  If you enroll in a course on the S/U basis you may subsequently change to a letter grade basis by filing a request with the registrar's office up to the first day of the final four weeks of classes.  You may not change from a letter grade to the S/U option after one week past the end of the drop/add period.    An S grade earned in a course may not be converted subsequently to a letter grade, and the course may not be retaken.

To enroll in a course on the S/U basis, you should add the course normally through ACES and then submit a Declaration of the S/U Grading Basis form, which must be signed by the instructor and your academic dean, to the Office of the Registrar ( 114 S. Buchanan Blvd., Smith Warehouse, Bay 9, Room A289 ) or to the Student Service Center (Room 101 Allen Building).  This must be done by 5 p.m. on the deadline date one week after the drop/add period ends in the semester.

Note: The S/U deadline (which also applies when a student wishes to audit a course) is strictly enforced.

The new S/U option will replace the pass/fail option starting in the fall semester 2010.

Last updated: September 9, 2011

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Schedule Correction Period

When the Drop/Add period ends, you have one week in which to review your course schedule and make any necessary corrections (for a current list of important dates, see Course Change Deadlines). Any withdrawal from a course after Drop/Add ends will result in the assignment of a grade of WP, WF or WE to the course in question. After the correction period ends you may no longer add a course for any reason. It is therefore critical that you review your course schedule carefully every semester at the end of drop/add to be sure you are actually enrolled in the courses you're attending.

Note: you may not add a course during the Schedule Correction Period that you did not attend before the end of drop/add.

If you have been attending a course since before the end of drop/add, and it does not appear on your schedule, you must obtain written permission and confirmation of the dates on which you've attended from the instructor. You must then take this written material to your Academic Dean.

If you have not attended a course since the end of drop/add, but it does appear on your schedule, see Academic Deans immediately. Failure to withdraw may result in a failing grade.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Scholarships

Duke University believes that the availability of a high quality education should depend on a student’s academic profile, rather than their financial circumstances. In support of this important principle, the University admits U.S. citizens and permanent residents without reference to their ability to pay and meets 100% of each admitted student's demonstrated need through grants, loans, and scholarships.

Undergraduate Scholarships
Three types of scholarships are available for undergraduate students: The first two types are need-based and merit. Need-based scholarships are awarded by the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid after a review of the field of eligible students. Such awards are made independently from the Pratt School of Engineering. There is no application process.

Merit scholarships are also awarded by the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid, with input from the Pratt School of Engineering. These awards are made on the basis of both academic scholarship and financial need. Again, there is no application process for these awards.

The last type is a third party scholarship. These often become known to the Dean's office, our Directors of Undergraduate Studies, and individual faculty on an ad hoc basis throughout the academic year. Directors of Undergraduate Studies in Pratt typically coordinate the nomination and support of students for these awards, and should be consulted regularly by students to keep abreast of these opportunities as they arise.

Graduate Scholarships
Graduate degrees are proffered by the Duke Graduate School, and not by Pratt. So the Graduate School also handles the award of scholarships and fellowships for graduate students.

The application forms for admissions to graduate school are also the application forms for financial aid. Incoming students who wish to be considered for the university fellowships or assistantships should so indicate on the application form for admission and award. Selection of awards recipients is made on the basis of academic merit and departmental recommendations.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Services for Students

An extensive array of support services is available to Duke undergraduates. Students are encouraged to contact these services as needed. In addition, instructors are encouraged to refer students to the appropriate services when advisable:

Last updated: May 13, 2010

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Short-Term Incapacitating Illness

Students are expected to notify their instructors when they become "incapacitated" due to an illness or injury that prevents them from completing an assignment.  Acting in accordance with the Duke Community Standard you should use the Short-Term Illness Notification Form (STINF) only when genuinely incapacitated.

Definition of Incapacitation:
An incapacitating illness or injury is one in which a student is hospitalized, under medical care for a short-term condition, or otherwise sufficiently debilitated as to be unable to perform basic academic tasks.  Colds, headaches, or other such mild complaints that result in your feeling less than 100% are not considered incapacitating, and you should not use the STINF in such instances.

Appropriate uses of the STINF might include such conditions as influenza, migraine, sinus infection, and strep throat.

For longer-term issues such as mono, a broken leg, or a chronic illness, consult your academic dean to discuss whether it is appropriate to use a STINF (see also "Long-term or chronic illness" below).

Note: The STINF is only a notification, indicating that you have missed class and/or cannot complete an assignment on time due to an incapacitating illness or injury.  When you submit a STINF, it is your responsibility to meet (or otherwise communicate) with the instructor of the course in question within 48 hours to discuss your missed work and how it will be treated in accordance with the instructor's policy.  If you do not contact your instructor within 48 hours following the date the STINF was submitted, the instructor is under no obligation to accommodate your illness and can treat your missed work as unexcused.  (Exceptions to the 48-hour deadline may be granted by the student's academic dean in extraordinary circumstances.)

The STINF should only be used for reasons related to your health. A STINF submitted for any other reason will not be accepted by the instructor.   The STINF is monitored by the academic deans of Trinity College and the Pratt School of Engineering, who will refer cases of abuse to the Office of Student Conduct.  

Procedures
The short-term illness notification procedure is based on these operating principles:

  • You are in the best position to judge whether you are too ill to complete an assignment or test at the designated time
  • You will only use the STINF for reasons related to your health and then only  if your illness is truly incapacitating but not for minor inconveniences such as colds and normal headaches.
  • You will act in accordance with the Duke Community Standard, in particular that provision stating that you will not "provide false or misleading information in order to be excused from classes or assignments."

Here's how the system works:

  1. Consult the ACES Web site to view your class schedule to obtain the name and number of the course and the name of the course instructor.
  2. Complete a secure on-line form (to be found at the end of these instructions) and submit it.  An e-mail to your instructor, with copies sent to you and available to your academic dean will be generated automatically. 
  3. Submit the STINF to your instructor as soon as possible once you realize that your short-term illness has become incapacitating. Instructors expect you to submit the short-term illness form prior to the class in which the graded assignment is due or will occur if at all possible.
  4. Your electronic signature on the form affirms your compliance with the Duke Community Standard.
  5. Within 48 hours of submission of a STINF you must meet with (or otherwise contact) the instructor to discuss how you can be accommodated under the circumstances in accordance with the course policy. Your instructor is under no obligation to accommodate your illlness if you fail to meet the 48-hour deadline and can treat it as an unexcused absence or late work.
  6. Since your instructor may want to use the same graded exercise that the rest of the class has completed, you are obligated to avoid obtaining any information about that graded exercise that would give you an unfair advantage over other students taking the course.

Short-term Incapacitating Illness Notification Form
 
Notes to Instructors:

  1. Please require the use of STINF for all absences due to incapacitating illness when graded work is missed.   The STINF provides a means of documenting student absences. This record is used by the academic deans as a basis for evaluating problematic absences.
  2. You have a right to expect students who submit a STINF to meet (or otherwise communicate) with you within 48 hours to talk about how you might accommodate their  missed work in accordance with your course policy and to discuss the implications of missing a class or deadline for submission of work.  If a student fails to meet the 48-hour deadline, you are under no obligation to accommodate the student, and his/her missed work can be treated as unexcused.  
  3. Do not accept a STINF as valid if it has been used for any reason other than incapacitating illness. 
  4. Bring to the attention of a student's academic dean any instances in which the instructor believes the student may be abusing the procedure.  In cases of suspected abuse of the system the dean may refer the matter to the Office of Student Conduct for investigation.

A note about the final exam period: Given the time limitations inherent in completing end-of-semester assignments or making up a missed final exam, the STINF procedure cannot be used during the final exam period. You are expected to take final examinations at the scheduled times and to complete end-of-semester work by the deadlines set by the instructor unless an extraordinary circumstance interferes. If you encounter an extraordinary circumstance during exam week, contact your academic dean directly as soon as possible, preferably before the scheduled assignment or exam.

Last updated: September 27, 2011

Special Domestic Programs (offered through Trinity College)

http://http://trinity.duke.edu/academic-requirements?p=special-domestic-programs

Last updated: November 19, 2003

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Study Abroad

Duke University and the Pratt School of Engineering offer a wide range of opportunities for studying abroad, including programs with and without a foreign language proficiency requirement. Some programs offer Duke approved engineering curriculum so students can continue to progress towards graduation.

International Honors Programs

Global problems increasing call for engineers and technologists fluent in foreign languages and who understand foreign cultures. The Pratt School of Engineering supports Duke’s undergraduate certificate program called the International Honors Program (IHP) for students who want to study or work abroad in order to better understand the engineering and technological international arena. IHP builds upon existing strengths in international studies at Duke University; it uniquely combines at the undergraduate level: (1) excellence in engineering skills, (2) foreign language proficiency, (3) cultural proficiency, and (4) awareness of world trade and economics as well as international public policy and sociology issues. For more information, see the Web site.

Duke Global Education for Undergraduates

Duke University is committed to providing an internationally grounded liberal education that will enable its students to understand the world better, appreciate the international contributions to knowledge, and to cope effectively with an increasingly intercultural environment. There are two types of programs: those administered directly by Duke ("Duke-in" programs), and those sponsored by other American and foreign universities which are approved by Duke.

The Pratt School of Engineering has also instituted a study abroad program for engineering students that does not require a foreign language proficiency. Students can take engineering courses at selected English-speaking universities and receive transfer credit towards their Duke undergraduate engineering degree. Engineering curriculum at universities in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and other countries have been evaluated and approved as equivalent in course content by Pratt faculty. (More info.)

Last updated: May 13, 2010

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200-Level Courses

200-level courses are senior-graduate courses. If you are not a senior but would like to take a 200-level course, you will need to do the following:

If you are a junior, you can enroll in a 200-level course.

If you are a sophomore, you can enroll in a 200-level course if you secure permission of the instructor of the course and of your Academic Dean.

If you are a freshman, you are not allowed to take 200-level courses. Exceptions are extremely rare and are granted only when it can be demonstrated that you have a truly exceptional background in a subject and are already familiar with available 100-level course work. If the instructor of a 200-level course supports your enrollment, the instructor will need to provide you with a letter to the Dean for Pre-Major Students, justifying it. Schedule an appointment with your Academic Dean to review the letter and to discuss whether your enrollment is appropriate. Your instructor's endorsement does not necessarily mean that you will receive approval.

Last updated: November 19, 2003

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Three Final Exams in 24 hours

If you have three final examinations that begin and end within a 24-hour time period (any contiguous combination of the 9 am, 2 pm, and 7 pm exam times) or two final examinations at the same time, you can have one exam date changed to another date/time. If one of the exams under consideration is a block exam, the block exam may not be the exam that is changed.

Download, print, and complete the Petition to Change Examination Schedule (PDF, 17KB). Take the completed form to the office of Dean Connie Simmons no later than three weeks before the last day of classes. For the complete procedure to handle this form, go to Exam Schedules and click on the appropriate semester. Completed forms should be submitted to the University Registrar at 114 S. Buchanan Street, Smith Warehouse, Bay 9, Room A289.

Note: Instructors are required by University policy to give their final exams at the time scheduled for them in the final exam schedule. Please bring to the attention of the University Registrar's Office (919-684-2813) any instance of unauthorized change by the instructor to the examination schedule for any course you are taking.

Last updated: May 9, 2011

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Transfer Credits

Credit Earned Prior to Matriculation:
Freshmen and transfer students who earn credit at other colleges before enrolling at Duke may present transcripts to the Engineering Dean's Office for evaluation (in consultation with the Directors of Undergraduate Study for the appropriate course) for credit or placement.

You can receive Duke credit only if the courses:

  • a) were taken on the college campus
  • b) were taken in competition with degree candidates of that college
  • c) were taught by a regular member of the college faculty
  • d) were part of the regular curriculum of the college
  • e) were taken after commencement of the student's junior year of high school
  • f) were not taken on a study abroad program completed prior to matriculation at Duke
  • g) yielded a grade of B- or better
  • h) were not pre-calculus or English composition courses
  • i) were not used to meet high school diploma requirements

All 9 of these criteria must be met.  In order to verify these criteria, you must take the following steps:
1)  arrange to have an official transcript of the college course sent directly to the Pratt School of Engineering (see below for address);
2)  provide the registrar's office with a course description or syllabus for each course taken;
3)  send a confirmation form to the college of record, which will confirm that the first four bulleted criteria above have been met;
4)  send a confirmation form to your high school, which will confirm that the last two bulleted criteria have been met.

All paperwork should be sent to Dean Connie Simmons at, The Pratt School of Engineering, 305 Teer Engineering Library, Box 90271, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708-0271.  Upon receipt of this information, Dean Simmons will confirm the remaining bulleted criteria above, consult with the relevant directors of undergraduate studies and then if appropriate, will award pre-matriculation credit comparable to the credit awarded for a score of 4 or 5 on an AP Exam. 

Courses Taken Elsewhere by Continuing Students
With prior approval from the Director of Undergraduate Studies in the appropriate department, the adviser, and the Associate Dean, an engineering student may receive transfer credit for up to four semester courses taken at other institutions either during the summer vacation, or while on an approved leave of absence from Duke. Transfer credit may not be awarded for courses taken while a student is ineligible to continue at Duke University (such as Academic Dismissal). Students may obtain copies of a Transfer Credit Approval Form at the Dean's Office [download form here]. The student then carries the form to the Director of Undergraduate Studies of the department most closely related to the course desired. The DUS assigns a Duke equivalent or elective credit on the basis of a review of catalog descriptions or course syllabi. Upon completion of the course with a grade of C- or better, the student must request that a transcript be forwarded to the Pratt School of Engineering where it is matched with the approval form and credit is added to the student's record. Grades for courses taken elsewhere are not noted on the Duke transcript, nor are such grades factored into the student's GPA.

Last updated: June 23, 2010

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Transfer To/From Engineering

Trinity College students can apply to transfer into the Pratt School of Engineering and Pratt students into Trinity College. The earliest this can occur is at the end of the first year, i.e., freshmen must complete their first year in the college or school in which they matriculated. Until their transfer has been approved, students wishing to transfer between Trinity College and Pratt must complete all applicable academic requirements of their original school.

Procedure
Download the transfer application form. Fill out and submit the application to the designated dean's office (Dean Simmons for Pratt School of Engineering, Dean Norman Keul for Trinity). Applications to transfer from Pratt to Trinity are routinely accepted. However, students who wish to transfer from Trinity to Pratt can expect their course work and grades to be scrutinized, especially their science and mathematics course work. It is strongly recommended that students interested in transferring to Pratt contact Dean Simmons as early as possible in their time at Duke so that they can begin with appropriate courses. Students in Pratt who wish to transfer to Trinity College should make an appointment to meet with Dean Norman Keul, Dr. Milton Blackmon, or Dr. Donna Kostyu in the Dean's Office for Academic Advising before they complete the application process in order to familiarize themselves with the Trinity College curricular and graduation requirements, which differ substantially from those in Pratt.

If you are a Trinity student, you will continue to be advised by and receive your PIN for registration from your Trinity adviser until your application for transfer to Pratt has been approved, but you are encouraged to work with Dean Simmons to be sure you are taking appropriate engineering courses. If you are currently in Pratt, you will continue to receive advice and your PIN from your Engineering adviser, but you are welcome to schedule an appointment with a den in the Academic Advising Center to discuss Trinity College curricular and graduation requirements, which differ substantially from those in Pratt.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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Withdrawal from Duke University

If you wish to withdraw from Duke, you must give official notification to your Academic Deans. Notification must be received prior to the beginning of classes in any term or tuition will be due on a pro rata basis. (See the section on "Fall and Spring" refunds in the Bulletin of Undergraduate Instruction chapter "Financial Information.") If you are withdrawing on your own initiative after the beginning of classes and prior to the last four weeks of regular classes in the fall or spring term, or before the last two weeks of regular classes in a summer term, a W is assigned in lieu of a regular grade for each course. After these dates an F grade is recorded unless withdrawal is caused by an emergency beyond your control, in which case a W is assigned by your Academic Dean.

If you decide to withdraw voluntarily from Duke, you should notify your Dean in writing as soon as possible after you have made your decision. If you are not sure and wish to evaluate your options, schedule an appointment with your Dean to discuss the issues. You may, for instance, wish to interrupt your studies at Duke temporarily, by taking a Leave of Absence. That would preserve your right to return, and also provide time for you to make important personal decisions.

If you wish to return to Duke after a period of voluntary withdrawal, please contact Academic Deans office in writing (Box 90271, Durham, NC 27708) or by telephone (919-660-5386) for information about readmission requirements, deadlines, and an application form for readmission.

Last updated: August 24, 2007

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